4.5 L of wine = 5 pours
I like how you pour!!! 
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After a(nother) great meal last night at Kitchen Table, our best yet as James Knappett continues to refine and improve the experience, I popped in solo to the Bubbledogs@45 pop up at 45 Park Lane for a hot dog and Champagne for lunch. Another solo hot dog and Champagne (and Kitchen Table) fan ordered a decent bottle and gave me half.
Very tight compared to VV/R20 as the vintages indicate. Drink R20 now, which is delish, and cellar R21 for a few years.
The kindness and generosity of strangers we encounter while traveling never ceases to amaze and inspire.
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This evening in the not-so-cheap seats, a move somewhat upmarket (by my price standards at least) to one of Thienot’s vintage wines which see quite some time sur lies. I’ve rather enjoyed their “house” wine, but whilst this is obviously a step up, I’m left insufficiently wowed to justify what for me is a fairly expensive bottle.
Frank - this was a great pairing. I loved them both, but I have to give the edge to the '13. Both have mouthwatering acidity, but the red berry fruits shine a bit more on the '13. That first taste of '13 was just wow for me and it kept getting better. I have to admit I enjoyed this comparison more than the '12/'13 Cristal rose we did back in April.
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Thanks, Jon. I added another 6 pack of this to a recent order based on your praise a few weeks back, and am pleased to see it corroborated.
Not that I’ve drank any of Thienot’s wines of any vintage, but the 2011 vintage is not what you want to judge a wine by - it’s that poor of a vintage.
I have 2 other “fancy” Thienots to try - both from 2008. Although sadly I ordered them just before @AstridKG 's recent not very positive report.
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I think you will be very happy with your purchase.
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PSA:
Last bubbles has Franck Bonville 2015 for $49. @Blake_Brown
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Thought about buying the Bonville, but 2015 made me pause.
-Al
I understand the reticence. I bought a few the last time they offered this and kicked myself for not buying more. It needs a little more time on cork, but it’s going to be a beauty.
Bravo, Jon. Yeah, I do like the 2013 too. I do think the energy on the 2013 is better, and the raspberry compote/salty strawberry composition of the 2013 is delicious.
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I about spit out my sip of water as I scrolled through that post and saw a fuckin hot dog at the bottom of the second pic. Amazing. It was very unexpected (though looks quite good and I enjoy a nice hot dog every now and then (though usually with a Ziegenbock at Globe Life Field watching the Rangers).
I decided to pull an '08 CdC to pair with an '08 CdG that someone else was bringing. This was still a bit reticent. We also tasted an '06 CdC and an '05 in magnum. The '06 is the '06, enough said. I was surprised by the '05. I am not a fan of that vintage, but drank nice in that format. What is up with CdG? The '08 was an easy drinker, lots of fruit, not too acidic.
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Recent birthday party and the birthday boy brought all the Champagne (I take responsibility for him getting the 242 in magnum). The other wines were Bereche Brut Reserve, Billecart Brut and Brut rose and Vilmart Grand Cellier. My favorites were the 242 and BS rose. Seemed like most people ranked the 242 tops as well. The BS brut was lost in the shuffle of these bigger wines. Bereche and Vilmart were nice, but I kept going back to my favorites.
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Love it Jon. I also was surprised at how elegant and delicious a recent 2005 was in a 750.
Extracted from a thread just posted:
NV KRUG GRANDE CUVEE 170eme EDTION in a 375ml bottle- this is a blend of 195 wines from 12 different years, the youngest of which is from 2014, while the oldest dates back to 1998; Its final composition is 51% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 11% Meunier; reserve wines made up 45% of the final blend; the 2014 vintage was one of hot and dry spells and cool and wet spells and my impression of this bottle was very similar as the wine kept changing back and forth, never quiet landing in a stable place; that was particularly true of the fruit profile which started off with more stone fruit notes of peach and apricot before moving toward tropical fruit notes of tangerine and kiwi with accents of licorice, minerals and saline coming in at various times; even the light green yellow color seemed atypical; it was creamy, rich and full bodied, but did not posses any of the toasty brioche I’ve been getting in most of the Editions at this stage.
The next 4 wines were all poured blind. First a sparkling wine, then a white and 2 reds, all having the possibility of coming from anywhere:
2002 DOM RUINART BRUT- blind; the color was a cloudy yellow amber and the nose first offered ripe citrus fruit with orange zest most prominent before some honey, toasty brioche and minerals came in; after 15 minutes or so, the taste profile expanded and the champagne seemed to gain some acidity, energy and complexity along with more distinct oakiness; when it came to time to offer impressions and a guess as to vintage and house during which time our provider reminded us the category was sparkling wine, I stayed with my early thought it was champagne, from 2005, and as aided by seeing some of the shape of the bottle which was unavoidable, went with Ruinart as opposed to Dom or Comtes, the latter being my first suspicion, but ruled out pretty easily after a couple of tastes. And, it took some time for this to reach the more complex profile that I’ve found much more prevalent in the great 2002 vintage.
Cheers,
Blake
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Another fine example of Empreintes, which continues to sit as my favorite bottle in the LF range. Really good.
- 2015 Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les Empreintes - France, Champagne (9/13/2024)
December 2020 disgorgement. 50/50 Pinot Noir/Chard. 2-4 gms of dosage. This bottle is almost a creamy tropical, an orangey note that I really enjoy. Reminds me a bit of Vimart Grand Cellier d'Or, with a little less dosage and a punctuation of more apple, but they do seem to have a close similarity to my palate. Lime peel, mango and some apricot. Love how this is aging.
Posted from CellarTracker
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A few recent champagnes:
- NV Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Rosé Extra Brut Les Terres Roses - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (9/14/2024)
rosé d'assemblage: 65% Chard, 35% PN, 1.5g/L dosage, 4 years on lees.
Pretty link pink-salmon color. Medium soft fleeting mousse. Small bead.
Yellow raspberry, unripe strawberry, nectarine, maybe some blood orange. Has a bit of salinity in mid palate. A bit of bitterness on the finish, but it doesn't linger. Overall, still very fresh, a good value and a cheerful champagne. - NV Gustave Goussard Champagne "Purnoir" Zero Dosage - France, Champagne (9/14/2024)
Forgot to write down the specs & don't have photo of back label for reference.
Light gold color. Red apple, ripe green pear, sweet lemon. As it warmed, it came across as bruised cocktail fruit; an earthy/woody note became more prominent and seemed at odds with the fruit. Even though it's high acid, it does not come across as a zero dosage. Overall, it was fine and a good value, but not a repurchase. I am glad to be done with my three bottles. - 2014 Louise Brison Champagne Cuvée Tendresse Blanc de Blanc Brut Nature - France, Champagne (9/8/2024)
100% Chard from Noé-Les-Mallets in Aube. Clay-limestone soil. Vinified and aged in wood. Dosage 0. Disgorged 06/08/2022.
Green apple, lemon zest, lemon, briney, and woody vanilla. High level of acidity, with some citrus-pith bitterness throughout. Perhaps not ready to drink yet. I think just a touch of dosage would have made this more cohesive.
Though I have enjoyed many Louise Brison champagnes, this is my first time trying her BdB. I should have only purchased one bottle, knowing that it was 100% chard, 0 dosage and aged in wood (not a combination that I usually enjoy). Perhaps it needs more time to integrate, but my storage is at capacity and champagne in fat bottles that "perhaps need to age" are not welcome anymore.
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You nailed it, the wine showed very well.